Singapore pinoy PR: I want to be recognized as a Filipino and NS is not going to change that

He may have been in Singapore for six years, but he still a Filipino by heart and National Service is not going to change his view, said Singapore pinoy PR Martin Cuda.

In an interview with Channel News Asia on the sensitive issue of new citizens and PRs serving NS, Martin who is going to be enlisted in three years’ time said:

“I have adapted some Singapore traits…but I want to be a Filipino, I want to be recognized as a Filipino and NS is not going to change that for me.”

Martin felt it is fair that he is serving NS to give back to Singapore which has taken care of him.

Another Singapore PR James Du who had served NS admitted that it is a positive experience to mix with Singaporeans from all walks of life and to integrate in Singapore society.

However he does not think it is necessary to make NS mandatory for new citizens and PRs who are past the enlistment age as they will be too old by then and they will be contributing to Singapore in other ways as well.

Watch the interview below:

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27 Responses to “Singapore pinoy PR: I want to be recognized as a Filipino and NS is not going to change that”

Dr XYZsaid

Sometimes I worry. Let these Foreign Trash join NS will expose them to Singapore’s military tactics. When war breaks out between Singapore and their native countries, these idiots will return to their homeland and use what they have learned against us! Either way, Singapore is on the losing end!!!
PAPayas, please wake up!

Wolfglaresaid

Sicksaid

Do your national service than we talk about whether you wanted to be a Singaporean a not. Don’t take Singapore as stepping stone, if you do wanted to take Singapore as your stepping stone, serve the national service before even commenting, period.

+60said

Leechersaid

If 30 and 40 year old Singaporeans can train as Reservist Personnel then why can’t first generation PRs and Citizens do likewise? They can also be sent to PDF to be trained to give medical aid and other civil defence activities.

just curioussaid

These foreigners thought that they are here contributing to Sgp and they do not see themselves benefiting from the lucrative (foreign exchnage) jobs. Therefore, there is little or no loyalty from them. In time of a crisis, (economic nor political), they’ll scram. Who’s gonna defend and rebuild this country? It’s only real Sgpns.

Ken Ngsaid

To serve 2 years of your life in National Service is not what makes u a Singaporean. After which we all do Reservist that takes us till 40 or for some, 45.

To take up arms and fight for your family and country is a life long commitment. Till the day you breathe you last breath.

If you think Singapore is worth defending, then you will do everything in your might to defend this land. Not for yourself, but for the the ones you love and your future generations with all your heart and your soul.

You do it not because what the government dictates you to. You do it not because you have a economical or pragmatic reason. You do it NOT because of the policies that say you must.

You do it because you believe. And you believe and truly believe that Singapore is the land you were bred, grew and flourished. And it is this soil that nurtured you as a MAN. And it is this soil, that you will die for, and lay down for. And this soil that NO ONE can take away from you. Not EVEN the PAP government.

Then you are Singaporean.

How I know? I serve my country for 7 full years in military service. I am ready to defend my land, my family and my country. This is my soil, where I am born, and where i will be buried in.

If you want to be part of this land, then show us that you are part of this land.

wjsaid

I find it commendable that James Du served NS. But like Ken Ng said, we serve NS because we have something worth defending, and that’s all that matters. I serve NS because I am a Singaporean, not because I want to be a Singaporean.

I also feel that there are better things to do than to scrutinise all immigrants whether they have served NS or not.

Although they have all the incentives to abandon us, I would still rather have them trained and ready to fight with me, instead of untrained and ready to run away at the first sign of trouble.

Marilyn Jakosalemsaid

We the Filipinos are obedient and loyal it is required by the Singapore government to take a test before you become a P.R Filipinos are not taking advantage, we work hard so, we deserve a reward, we obey the rules so, we deserve a prize and what is the problem?

maksaid

He cannot go home lah… his parents will have to ‘pay’ and maybe give up their citizenship.. or maybe the parents are waiting to migrate to another first world country using Singapore passports….so they will wait…..and ‘become’ singapore citizens’ for the time being…

Donosaid

Filipino is a race…he is still a fillipino same as there are malay sporean,indian sporean and chinese sporean…
We have little india,chinatown and geylang…but we r still sporean.
Mayb that is what he meant..I have a friend(phillipino) whose children prefer staying in spore rather than phillipine…what does that say then..

vidimusdominumsaid

Let the record show that the report states “cultural identity”. There is nothing wrong about wanting to be recognized as a “Filipino” just as there is no guile in wanting to be recognized as Chinese, Malay, Indian. These are cultural identities that are distinct from nationality.

Like the USA, Singapore is a migrants society, however, unlike the USA were no one refers to himself as Irish or Polish or Italian but American, Singapore has chose to encourage the preservation of individual cultures.

This model may be debated on its level of efficacy – clearly enclaves are forming – nonetheless, it does well to remember that we are NOT going to keep the economy running by ourselves and that we are a migrants society and will always be; we are too small and diverse to be authentically homogenous.

The ‘majority representation’ does not make one race superior to another. My father, born and bred in Singapore, served in the top brass of the Military; I too grew up here, but there has not been an occassion when someone looking at my IC (only those times because generally I look Chinese) asks, “Where are you from/how come you are Singaporean?” Do I see myself as less Singaporean? No. In fact, I even speak the National Language, Bahasa Melayu, on top of Mandarin and 2 Chinese dialects. But I also recognize worth in almost 500 years of recorded Filipino history and culture.

If we cannot see and accept the cosmopolitant nature of our backyard, let’s forget about enaging the “global village”.

Paulsaid

Let the record show that the report states “cultural identity”. There is nothing wrong about wanting to be recognized as a “Filipino” just as there is no guile in wanting to be recognized as Chinese, Malay, Indian. These are cultural identities that are distinct from nationality.

Like the USA, Singapore is a migrants society, however, unlike the USA were no one refers to himself as Irish or Polish or Italian but American, Singapore has chose to encourage the preservation of individual cultures.

This model may be debated on its level of efficacy – clearly enclaves are forming – nonetheless, it does well to remember that we are NOT going to keep the economy running by ourselves and that we are a migrants society and will always be; we are too small and diverse to be authentically homogenous.

The ‘majority representation’ does not make one race superior to another. My father, born and bred in Singapore, served in the top brass of the Military; I too grew up here, but there has not been an occassion when someone looking at my IC (only those times because generally I look Chinese) asks, “Where are you from/how come you are Singaporean?” Do I see myself as less Singaporean? No. In fact, I even speak the National Language, Bahasa Melayu, on top of Mandarin and 2 Chinese dialects. But I also recognize worth in almost 500 years of recorded Filipino history and culture.

If we cannot see and accept the cosmopolitant nature of our backyard, let’s forget about enaging the “global village”.